Frequently Asked Questions

It is never advisable that a plaintiff go to court on their own. Illinois laws can be complex and confusing. Without an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side, you may fall victim to unforeseen technicalities which could reduce your ability to obtain fair compensation for your injuries. The state’s comparative negligence laws mean that if an insurer is able to assign enough blame to the accident victim, they can reduce the amount they will owe in damages. Working with the right attorney can help to prevent these kinds of problems.

At Howerton, Dorris, Stone & Lambert, we offer free consultations to everyone, no matter if their case is big or small. Our goal is to learn how we can help you best, even if it does not benefit us monetarily. By understanding the legal options you have available, you can proceed with confidence in your case.

While there can be some discrepancies based on the industry in which you work and the severity of the injury, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act states that employers are required to cover the medical costs associated with the injury. In addition, the employee can receive a percentage of their original income during the time they are away from work. If the amount is not enough for a stress-free recovery, experienced attorneys can also help you sue for emotional distress, loss of consortium, and future medical costs.

This is a common problem among people who are injured at work. To avoid paying a full, fair settlement, companies will sometimes try to minimize the severity of a person’s injury or claim they were at fault. Having an experienced attorney is the only solution here. Hurt employees will have to sue for further compensation, and it is important that their cases be built with solid legal strategy that makes effective use of Illinois law. Do not fight this battle alone.

Yes, but not permanently. Work-related healthcare costs will first go through your usual insurer. Following an examination of your workers’ comp claim, these costs could be reversed and covered by workers’ comp insurance. By working with experienced workers’ comp attorneys, you can file your accident claim with confidence.

Absolutely not. Many clients prefer settling out of court due to the high time and cost demands of using the court system. The only reason for going to court is to fight a poor settlement from an insurer. If your injuries were severe, but the settlement was not enough to fully recover, it is important to take the matter to a judge who can make changes as necessary. With the help of experienced personal injury attorneys, you can make a better choice about how to proceed.

Illinois practices a doctrine of what is called comparative negligence. So long as you were not equally at fault with the party responsible for your injuries, you are entitled to compensation. Once the total damages are calculated, you will be given that amount minus the percentage of your fault in the accident. However, this does not mean that amount will be fair. By hiring experienced Marion personal injury attorneys, you can better understand the amount to which you are entitled.